For Earth Day, here are 6 easy tips to make your wardrobe more sustainable right now

Spring is here, and with its arrival comes an urge for many of us to refresh our wardrobes. 

The drive may be fuelled by our own anticipation of better weather, ennui with our winter outfits, or a consumer market equally eager for our patronage.

Many people, though, are becoming increasingly aware that the rate we are collectively acquiring and disposing of clothing is an issue of global concern, both socially and environmentally.

Meghan Fowler, a self-taught "sewist" in Winnipeg who aims to live sustainably, says you don't need to worry about becoming a paragon of sustainability in a day — think of it as a journey instead of a destination, she says.

To become a more sustainable fashion consumer, start by thinking little steps, not leaps, says Fowler.

In that spirit on this Earth Day, here are her six easy tips for making your wardrobe more sustainable right now.

Use what you already have

The most sustainable piece of clothing is the one you already own. Mix and match with the pieces that already occupy space in your wardrobe. Bring staple items into as many seasons as you can.

Repair, mend, repeat

Throw a branded gear patch onto a hole in your jacket, try your hand at sashiko-style mending (visible and decorative stitching) on your torn jeans, or hand or machine sew the frayed edges of a torn sleeve together. Seem too hard? It's really not. For every fix there's a video on the internet to teach you. 

Want it? Make it 

Trying something new can be intimidating, but engaging in creative pursuits can be deeply meaningful and enriching, regardless of the outcome. The bonus here is that if you learn to sew or knit, the outcome also happens to be functional and beautiful. Groups or shops like Winnipeg Sews offer beginner classes on sewing and mending.

Share and share alike

Hand-me-downs may have acquired a bad reputation among the latter-born children of larger families, but let's not disparage the hand-me-down. The thing you are just not reaching for anymore may be another person's new favourite item. Try having a clothing swap with friends. Pass pre-loved items back and forth among friends. 

Buy second-hand first

Part of changing your relationship with clothing is learning to see it as a matter of pride to be part of the slow-fashion economy, where keeping clothes in circulation and out of the landfill is a good thing. When you purchase clothes, try thrifting before purchasing new. 

Buy new, buy smart

When purchasing new clothes, buy with sustainability in mind.

Step 1: Buy from companies you want to support. Are they locally owned? Do they pay fair wages? Are they genuinely making steps to be environmentally sensitive. Fashion Revolution publishes an annual report that rates fashion brands for their supply chain, treatment of workers and manufacturing practices, among other criteria.

Step 2: Buy good-quality and versatile items, ideally made from biodegradable materials and/or from a single fibre. Single-fibre clothes are more recycle-friendly than mixed fibre clothes.

Step 3: Buy what you like, not what's trendy. Avoid fast-fashion trends and go for quality and styles that will last more than a season. Make your clothes last.